all

all

Sa’ar in Berlin: Israel and Germany move closer together

Gideon Sa’ar meets Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Wadephul — with Iran, security, the economy and the strategic partnership between the two countries at the center of the talks.

Dov Eilon
May 6, 2026 at 10:23 am
2 Min Read
| Topics: Germany
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (right) and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar at a joint press conference in Berlin, May 5, 2026. Photo: EPA/Hannibal Hanschke
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (right) and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar at a joint press conference in Berlin, May 5, 2026. Photo: EPA/Hannibal Hanschke

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is currently on an official visit to Germany. The focus of the visit is the threat posed by Iran, the security situation in the Middle East and strategic cooperation between Jerusalem and Berlin.

Sa’ar met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, it was the eighth meeting between the two foreign ministers within a year — a sign of the exceptionally close coordination between Germany and Israel.

The visit also included talks with other senior German politicians, including Armin Laschet, chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the best-known supporters of German-Israeli relations within the CDU.

At a joint press conference in Berlin, Sa’ar and Wadephul emphasized the close partnership between the two countries amid tensions in the Middle East. Both foreign ministers made clear that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Wadephul called on Tehran to choose diplomacy and end its destabilizing activities in the region.

Sa’ar said Israel does not seek an “endless war” with Iran. At the same time, he warned against giving the Iranian regime time to rebuild its military capabilities. Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities, he said, must be completely stopped.

The situation in Lebanon and the threat posed by Hezbollah were also discussed. Sa’ar emphasized that Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but will not accept renewed attacks from the country’s south. The Lebanese government, he said, must take stronger action against Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure.

The visit comes at a time when Berlin is trying to rebalance its traditionally close relationship with Israel. Chancellor Merz recently stressed, on the one hand, that further attacks on Israel would be unacceptable, while also criticizing certain Israeli military actions. Jerusalem is closely watching these signals.

Despite close cooperation, differences remain between the two governments over the war in the Gaza Strip. Although a ceasefire has been in effect since October 2025, the situation remains tense. Hamas has so far strictly rejected the disarmament demanded under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza initiative. At the same time, the Israeli army reported a total of 19 ceasefire violations between April 21 and May 5 alone.

In addition to political talks, historical and social issues are also on the agenda. Sa’ar is expected to visit the “Track 17” memorial at Berlin-Grunewald station. From there, the Nazis deported thousands of Berlin Jews to the extermination camps. Meetings with representatives of Germany’s Jewish community are scheduled afterward.

This part of the visit carries particular significance against the backdrop of increasing antisemitic incidents in Europe. Since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, many European countries — including Germany — have recorded a sharp rise in antisemitic crimes and anti-Israel incitement.

Relations between Israel and Germany are now closer than ever in the field of security policy as well. A central symbol of this is the Arrow 3 missile defense system. Germany decided in 2025 to purchase the Israeli system. At the beginning of 2026, an additional multibillion-dollar order followed to expand the project. With a total volume of around $6.7 billion, Arrow 3 is considered the largest defense export deal in Israel’s history.

In Berlin, Sa’ar repeatedly emphasized that Israel is not only a political partner for Germany, but also an important ally in the fields of defense, intelligence cooperation, technology and counterterrorism. Israeli systems now protect Germany “in the air, on land and at sea,” the foreign minister said.

Sa’ar also spoke at “Economic Day 2026” in Berlin, the annual gathering of the CDU Economic Council. There, he called for further expansion of German-Israeli cooperation in the fields of innovation, security technology and the economy.

Especially amid tensions in the Middle East, the German-Israeli partnership is currently gaining additional importance.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates

  • Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

     

     

     

    • Login

    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.